ExxonMobil drillship on location - Cyprus Block 10

HOUSTON -- The Stena Icemax drillship has arrived on location in Cyprus’ offshore Block 10, and is preparing to bore down into the seabed, Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said, early this week.

He was speaking to the press after giving MPs a briefing on the overall state of play in the hydrocarbons space, with emphasis on the two exploratory wells to be carried out by ExxonMobil, in the coming weeks.

The minister was giving reporters a broad outline of his briefing, which was held in a closed-door session.

He said the Stena Icemax vessel, leased by Exxon, had arrived on schedule at the first drilling target in Block 10.

“Cyprus’ energy program, as it has been designed, is being implemented, it is going forward and will continue without fanfare,” he added.

According to reports, the Stena Icemax drillship reached its destination at the ‘Delfini’ target in Block 10 a little ahead of schedule, arriving there late on Sunday evening.

Drilling will commence sometime over the next few days, and is expected to be completed around mid-December. The vessel will then immediately head out to a second drill site.

Daily Phileleftheros reports that early on Monday morning a team of government officials were flown aboard the drillship by helicopter.

One of the support vessels had set out from the port of Limassol and was en route to rendezvous with the Stena Icemax.